Vehicle-wheel.



J. H. WAGENHOHST.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1912.

1,l6@,22%. I Patented Nov. 16, 191.5.

FflGi.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

J. H. WAGENHORSY.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1912.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915 2 SHE'S-SHEET Z- icense.

5%TATE PATENT JAMZES H. 'WAGENHORST, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, .OF.

TWO-FIFTHS TO THE B. GOODRICH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORA- TION OF NEW' YQRK, ONE-FIFTH TO THE GQODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, OF .AKRDN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO, AND ONE-FIFTH TO THE 'UNZTED STATES TIRE COMPANY, GTE NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VEHlICLE-WI-IEEL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES H. VVAGEN- nons'r, a eitizen of the United States, residing in Akron, county of Summit, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels, of which the following is specification.

This invention relates particularly to means for securing pneumatic or other resilient tires to vehicle wheels, and comprises impro ments in the manner of securing a tire-carrying rim removably upon a wheel, so that the rim and tire carried thereby may be taken off and replaced by a duplicate rim carrying a second and preferably already inflated tire. My invention also comprises certain improvements in the structure of the tire-carrying rim.

In certain applications for patents heretofore filed .by me, for example, in my applications Serial Nos. 668,771 and 6725M, filed December 30, 1911 and January 22, 1912, I have described a novel type of demountable rim in which the rim is secured to the wheel by means of bolts passing radially through the wheel telly and adapted to be forced outward into engagement with the under'surface of the rim, thus lifting therim away from the wheel felly at intervals and causing the same to grip the latter between the bolts. In all of such cases the bolts are carried by the folly of the wheel and the pressure upon the bolts is transmitted primarily to the wheel felly and secondarily from the folly to the spokes. In accordance with my present invention I transmit the pressure of the devices engaging the wheel felly directly to the spokes of thewheel instead of to the folly. The means by which I accomplish this result will be described in detail hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of a wheel with a rim and tire thereon, embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the wheel, rim and tire shown in Fig. 1, apart of the rim and felly being broken away to show one of the radial bolts passing through the-folly. Fig. 3 is a fragmen tary sectional perspective view of a portion of the rim base, illustrating the manner in Specification of Letters Patent.

shown in section.

Patented Nov. 1%, 1915.

Application filed June 10, 1912. Serial No. 702354.

which the same is transversely split. Fig.

4 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the rim base, showing the transverse split therein. the dotted line showing the position into which one end of the rim base is moved to disengage the ends of the rim base and permit it to be collapsed. Fig. 5 is atransverse section on the line V'-V of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section through a portion of awheel folly and rim, showing one of the radial bolts and the end of a spoke in elevation, the socket portion of the radial bolt being shown in section, and illustrating a modification of the structure shown in Figs. 2 and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of a wheel showing a modification of my invention, a part of therim', -whcel felly and end of the spoke being shown in section to illustrate the construction-of the radial bolt. Fig. 8 is a view of the under side of the wheel felly and felly plate secured thereto shown in Fig. 7,

the squared portion of the radial bolt being.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the under side of a modified formof tire carrying rim showing the transverse spht therein. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the tire-carrying rim shown in Fig. 9. the ends of the rim being shown separated longitudinally.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the

numeral 1 designates a vehicle wheel having spokes 2 and a felly 3. If the felly is'of wood, it preferably has shrunk upon its pcriphery .a metallic felly band 4, which is pro vided with bearing surfaces to be engaged by the bearing surfaces of the removable tire carry'ing rim. The bearing surfaces of the wheel are preferably of different diameters, As illustrated in the drawings, the folly band 4 has at one side a raised outwardly curved flange 5, the upper surface of which. forms a convex bearing surface 6, while at the opposite edge the folly band 4 is bent downward to provide a concave hearing surface 7. 8 is the tire-carrying rim, which, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, comprises a rim base 9, having inwardly hooked flanges 10 formed at the edges thereof, these flanges engaging the endless, reversible tirc-rctaining flanges 11. The rim base is preferably transversely split at one point, as

will be hereinafter described. The rim base is provided with bearing surfaces of different diameters, adapted to engage the hearing surfaces of different diameters formed upon the periphery of the wheel. As shown in the drawings, the rim base has two ribs 12 and 13 rolled therein, these ribs being prezeiably formed without thickening the metal of the rim, so that the rim base inay be cold rolled from flat stock- The rib 13 is higher than the rib12 and its outer surface forms a convex bearing surface 1 adapted to engage the bearing surface 7 at the edge of the telly band 1." The rib 12 is adapted to engage the bearing surface 6 of the telly band l, the convex bearing surface 6 preferably engaging the concave surface 15 formed by the junction of the side of the rib 12 with the bottom of the rim base. By forming the bearing surfaces in the manner described, all of the bearing surfaces on the rim and folly band may be formed by the simplest cold-rollingoperations, and yet a firm wedging engagement of the rim on the wheel may be secured, the contacting surfaces being of substantial area.

or securing the rim' upon the wheel, means are provided for forcing the rim radially outward at intervals so as tocause the same to grip the periphery of the wheel between the points where the rim is forced out. In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, I provide for this purpose a number of studs passing radially through the wheel and telly and engaging the under surface of the rim, these studs being directly supported upon a corresponding number of spokes. As shown :in the drawings, four equally disposed studs 16 are provided.

Each stud comprises a cylindrical shank,

having a head 17 shaped for engagement by wrench or other means for turning the stud. Each stud has a screw-threaded socket 18 extending into the under side thereof, the screw 19 permanently secured to the end of one of the spokes screwing into. this socket.

The screw'19 may be secured to its spoke in any suitable manner; for example, it may be carried by cap 20, which fits over the endof the spoke and is held in position by means of a pin 21. The end of the stud 16 and the under surface of the g'im are provided with suitable engaging means whereby the stud will lock the rim positively against lateral and circumferential movement. These engaging means may be of any suitable form. For example, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. a roundheaded rivet 22 is secured to the rim base, the end of the stud having a depression 23 therein to receive this round head. The stud will thus hold the rim against lateral movement upon the wheel and thus insure the accurate centering of the rim, and will also prevent creeping of the rim and thus take the place of separate driving plates; In Fig, 6 it have shown a modification of the rim inwhicli a rounded boss is pressed in the m iatal of the rim base, this boss being received in the depression end of the radial stud in place of the b. ad ot the rivet shown in Figs. 4 and In the operation of my device it will understood that there is suificient cl, ance between the bearingsurfaces on the the bearing surfaces on the telly permit the rim to be applied to the. the valve stem being button-holed through a hole in the telly. It will be understood that by providing the rim telly band with bearing surfaces at each side of different diameters, the ole: 'ance necessary to permit the rim to be app. in this manner need be very slight. fraction of the clearance is required to pi mit the to be applied to the wheel and removed whefitthe separated bearing surfaces di ameters are used, as compar "i the clearance necessary if the rim y band are provided with cylindrical engaging surface. or with separated bearing surfaces of equal diameter. The rim having been applied to the wheel, the radial studs 16 are rotated by means of a wrench applied to the heads in-on 1. 11.3.

them to unscrew from the fixed screws 1? and thus be forced positively in a direction radial from the hub. The studs are guided in their travel by the walls of the holes in the telly through which they slide, but the telly takes none of the radial stress, which is transmitted directly to the spokes carrying the studs. The screwing out of the studs causes the recesses in the ends thereof-to receive the rounded heads of the rivets 22 and thus guide the rim into alined position with the-wheel, and finally to force the rim out at' intervals and thus take-up the clearance be tween the rim and wheel and cause the bear- 22 and permitting the rim to assume its normal shape, The rim is then free to be-r'emoved.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modification of my invention in which the radial studs 25 slide through holes in the telly but do not turn therein. Each stud 25 is provided with a squared portion 26 at its lower end, from which projects a screw-threaded portion 27 The squared portion 26 slides through a correspondingly shaped opening in a plate 28 secured to the under side of the telly by means of screws 29, or in any other suitable manner. The end of the screw-threaded portion 2.7 is received in a recess 30 formed in the end of a spoke, the end of the spoke preferably being protected by means of a cap 31 driven thereover. The screw-threaded portion 27 passes freely through an opening in the end of this cap. Screwing upon this threaded portion 27 and resting upon the top of the cap 81, is a nut 32. Rotating the nut 32, as will be readily understood, will force the stud away from the spoke and thus cause the same to engage the under side of the rim and lift the same from the periphery of the wheel near the point of engagement, as in the form of my invention already described. The screw-threaded portion 27 preferably carries also a lock nut 33 which normally remains in a predetermined position upon the portion .27, it being held in such position by means of a set-screw 34, if found desirable. This nut 33 serves asa means for limiting the outward movement of the radial stud. and thus prevents the rim from being mounted upon the wheel eccentrically owing to one stud being screwed out more than the others. The nut 33 will also against the underside of the plate 28 and thus prevent accidental loosening of thestud. The nut 33 may also *iieiused to retract the stud in case it sticks hole through the felly and requires forcible dis- .lodgment, this operation being accomplished by screwing the nut 32 out of contact with the cap 31, loosening the set-screw 34 and screwing-the nut 33 against the under surface of the piste 28. In Fig. 7 T have shown the end ofthe stud 25 cone-shaped, as indicated at 35, and entering a similarly shaped depressioi 36 formed in theunder surface of the rim base. it is obvious that this arrangement maybe used in lieu of the corresponding means shown in Figs. 5 and 6 if desired.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a novel nanner of transversely cutting a rim base, the

ends of the rim base when in engagement being held against radial displacement in either direction. As shown in this figure and in Fig. 3, a cut 37 inclined in one direction to a radius, ismade half-way across the rim base, a second cut 38 alined with-the cut 37 but inclined in the opposite direction to a radius, being made across the other half of the rim base. These two cuts join in the middle so that the rim base is entirely severed, but the bevel of the two outs being opposite, a portion of each end of the rim base overhangs a portion of the opposite end of the rim base so that the ends of the rimbase are effectually interlocked against radial displacement. In order to separate the ends of the rim base it is necessary to offset one end of the same laterally with relation to the other, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The ends of the rim base can then be-telescoped and the rim base collapsed sufiiciently to permit the endless flanges 11 engaging the tire to be removed. The operation of this rim base is similar to that of the tire-carrying rim described and claimed broadly in my application Serial No. 628,386, filed May 20, 1911, but the device here shown is of exceedingly simple construction, as the desired result is obtained by simply sawing the rim base half-way across-in planes inclined in opposite directions to a radius. As will be understood, the ends of the rim base are normally held against lateral displacement by means'of the endless flanges 11 which are forced against the inwardly pro-n jecting flanges 10 by means of air pressure in the tire. v

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown a modification of the idea illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4:- As shown in these figures, 39 is a rim .which issevered half-way across by a cut 40, disposed in a plane at an angle to a radius, the other half of the rim being divided by a cut 41 oppositely inclined to a radius. The general direction of the line of division of the rim is oblique to the edges of the rim. This is also true of the form of rim shown in Fig. 4, but in the rim shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the ends of the two cuts 10 and 41 overlap, so to speak, so as to provide central 1 shoulders l2.v In the form illustrated in Fig.

locking shoulders 42 which prevent movement in either direction. The split need not therefore be oblique. The opposite bevels of the two portions of the out in the rim prevent the relative radial displacementof. the ends of the rim in either direction. It Will thus be seen that the ends of the rim are efiectually interlocked against "displapement in anydirection except circumferentially; that is, the ends of the rim cannot slide by each other, but may be separated only by being drawn directly apart as illustrated in Fig. 10. For purposes of illustration. the rim 39 has been shown in Figs. 9 and 10 as provided with integral tire-retaining eienches engagement, comprising a radial stud carried by a fixed spoke of the Wheel, said stud passing through said fixed rim and engaging the tire-carrying rim.

2. In combination in a vehicle wheel. having a fixed rim, a plurality of spokes supporting said rim, a tire carrying rim and means for securing the tire-carrying rim on the wheel including a plurality of studs passing through the fixed rim and carried by spokes intermediate of those supporting the fixedf rim, said studs being adjustable with relation to said spokes and engaging the under-surface of said rim. 7 A

3. The combination in a vehicle wheel of a fixed rim and a demountable rim seated directly on said fixed rim, and means for ca using their mutual engagement, comprising a plurality of studs axially alined with and carried by the spokes of the wheel, said spokes being fixed, said studs passing through the fixed rim and projecting above the surface of thefixed rim, theends of said studs interlocking with portions of said demountable rim, and means for the radial adjustment of said studs;

4. In combination, a vehicle wheel, at least one of the spokes of which is short, a screw fixed to the end of said spoke and projecting therefrom in axial alinement with said spoke, a stud having a cylindrical portion sliding in aradially disposed hole through the telly of said wheel, said stud having a screw-threaded socket therein and screwing memes upon the screw carried by said spoke, said stud having an exposed head by whiehjt may be rotated to cause the same to travel along said screw and through the hole in said folly, a tire-carrying rim mounted upon said wheel, the end of said stud engaging the under side of said tire-carrying rim when the stud is screwed to operative position.

5. In combination, a vehicle Wheel provided with solid spokes, a tire-carrying rim, and means for securing the tire-carrying rim upon the wheel comprising radial studs carried by the wheel and adapted to be forced into engagement with the under-side of the tire-carrying rim, the under-side of said rim having lugs projecting inwardly therefrom,

the ends of said studs being recessed to receive. said lugs.

6. In combination, a vehicle wheel pro: vided with solid spokes having screws attached thereto, a tire-carrying rim, and

means for securing the tire-carrying rim r upon the wheel comprising threaded studs 'coacting with said screws and adapted to be forced into engagement with the under-side of the tire-carrying rim.

Snwann Davis, EDMUND QUINCY llllosns. 

